diff --git a/configuration/driver/icedrv_init.F90 b/configuration/driver/icedrv_init.F90
index 7fc063aff..fc44d51f9 100644
--- a/configuration/driver/icedrv_init.F90
+++ b/configuration/driver/icedrv_init.F90
@@ -119,8 +119,7 @@ subroutine input_data
 
       real (kind=real_kind) :: rpcesm, rplvl, rptopo 
       real (kind=dbl_kind) :: Cf, puny
-      character(len=char_len_long) :: tmpstr2 ! for namelist error
-      
+
       character(len=*), parameter :: subname='(input_data)'
 
       !-----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -294,143 +293,133 @@ subroutine input_data
       ! read from input file
       !-----------------------------------------------------------------
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      open (nu_nml, file=trim(nml_filename), status='old',iostat=nml_error)
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'error opening namelist file '//trim(nml_filename)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: open file '// &
+            trim(nml_filename), &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
-      close(nu_nml)
-      
-      print*,'Reading namelist file   ',nml_filename
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading setup_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: setup_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading setup_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
          read(nu_nml, nml=setup_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: setup_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
-      close(nu_nml)
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading grid_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: grid_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading grid_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
          read(nu_nml, nml=grid_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: grid_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
-      close(nu_nml)
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading thermo_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: thermo_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading tracer_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
-         read(nu_nml, nml=tracer_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
+         read(nu_nml, nml=thermo_nml,iostat=nml_error)
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: thermo_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
-      close(nu_nml)
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading tracer_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: tracer_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading thermo_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
-         read(nu_nml, nml=thermo_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
+         read(nu_nml, nml=tracer_nml,iostat=nml_error)
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: tracer_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
-      close(nu_nml)
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading shortwave_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: shortwave_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading shortwave_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
          read(nu_nml, nml=shortwave_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: shortwave_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
-      close(nu_nml)
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading ponds_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: ponds_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading ponds_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
          read(nu_nml, nml=ponds_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: ponds_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
-      close(nu_nml)
 
-      if (tr_snow) then
-         open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
-         nml_error =  1
-         print*,'Reading snow_nml'
-         do while (nml_error > 0)
-            read(nu_nml, nml=snow_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-            if (nml_error /= 0) exit
-         end do
-         if (nml_error /= 0) then
-            ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-            backspace(nu_nml)
-            read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-            write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-            call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
-         endif
-         close(nu_nml)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading snow_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: snow_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
+      nml_error =  1
+      do while (nml_error > 0)
+         read(nu_nml, nml=snow_nml,iostat=nml_error)
+      end do
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: snow_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
 
-      open (nu_nml, file=nml_filename, status='old',iostat=nml_error)
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading forcing_nml'
+      rewind(unit=nu_nml, iostat=nml_error)
+      if (nml_error /= 0) then
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: forcing_nml rewind ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading forcing_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
          read(nu_nml, nml=forcing_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-         write(ice_stdout,*) 'ERROR: reading namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: forcing_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
+
       close(nu_nml)
 
       !-----------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/configuration/driver/icedrv_init_column.F90 b/configuration/driver/icedrv_init_column.F90
index 029f8b114..357fa6ec8 100644
--- a/configuration/driver/icedrv_init_column.F90
+++ b/configuration/driver/icedrv_init_column.F90
@@ -796,8 +796,6 @@ subroutine init_zbgc
         ntd      , & ! for tracer dependency calculation
         nk       , & !
         nt_depend
-      
-      character(len=char_len_long) :: tmpstr2 ! for namelist errors
 
       character(len=*), parameter :: subname='(init_zbgc)'
 
@@ -1008,25 +1006,22 @@ subroutine init_zbgc
       ! read from input file
       !-----------------------------------------------------------------
 
+      write(nu_diag,*) subname,' Reading zbgc_nml'
+
       open (nu_nml, file=trim(nml_filename), status='old',iostat=nml_error)
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         print*,'error opening zbgc namelist file '//trim(nml_filename)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
-      endif 
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: zbgc_nml open file '// &
+            trim(nml_filename), &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
+      endif
 
       nml_error =  1
-      print*,'Reading zbgc_nml'
       do while (nml_error > 0)
          read(nu_nml, nml=zbgc_nml,iostat=nml_error)
-         if (nml_error /= 0) exit
       end do
       if (nml_error /= 0) then
-         ! backspace, re-read erroneous line, then print
-         backspace(nu_nml)
-         read(nu_nml,fmt='(A)') tmpstr2
-
-         print*,'ERROR: reading zbgc namelist ' // trim(tmpstr2)
-         call icedrv_system_abort(file=__FILE__,line=__LINE__)
+         call icedrv_system_abort(string=subname//'ERROR: zbgc_nml reading ', &
+            file=__FILE__, line=__LINE__)
       endif
       close(nu_nml)